Hitzeman: When life hands you falling lemon juice, file a lawsuit
When life hands you lemons - you make lemonade, right?
But what about when life hands you a falling lemon juice bottle?
A Batavia woman recently filed suit against Aldi, claiming she was injured when a display of one-quart lemon juice bottles apparently toppled.
Carrie Jaques Markuson seeks more than $50,000 in damages for injuries she says she sustained Aug. 16, 2013, while shopping at an Aldi at 451 N. Randall Road in Batavia, according to court records.
The lawsuit argues Aldi knew or should have known the display presented a danger to customers.
Aldi also "failed to adequately warn customers with signs, banners or placards about the hazard of falling merchandise in its store," according to the lawsuit.
Officials at Adli's world headquarters in Batavia declined to comment.
Markuson's attorney, Kirsten Casas, declined to elaborate on how her client was injured.
"At this point, we would prefer to litigate our case in the court system and not the media," she said.
Casas also was the attorney for a lawsuit filed against the Blue Goose Grocery store in St. Charles by a woman seeking more than $50,000 damages for biting into a piece of cherry pie that contained a pit earlier this year.
Markuson's case is due in court on Oct. 29.
Prison for attempted rape:
A 26-year-old Carpentersville man was sentenced last week to three years in prison for trying to sexually assault a girl.
Juan C. Cuello-Calderon, of the 100 block of Madera Circle, was convicted in June of attempted criminal sexual assault and attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Prosecutors said Cuello-Calderon went into the bedroom of a girl under 18 on July 21, 2014, got on top of her and tried to forcibly remove her clothing. The girl kicked him off and the girl's mother came into the room, asking what happened.
Cuello-Calderon must register for life as a sex offender. He can have his prison term cut in half for good behavior and gets credit for nearly 13 months served at the Kane County jail while the case was pending. He also is to have no contact with the victim in the two years he is on parole after his prison release.
Tip A Cop comes up big:
The Aug. 10 "Tip A Cop" event at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1460 N. Orchard Road, Aurora, raised $3,008 to help support Illinois Special Olympics.
Officers, support staff, Citizens Police Academy alumni and local Special Olympians waited tables during the event, and the restaurant donated part of its proceeds. So far this year, Aurora police have raised more than $19,000 for Special Olympics. For more information or to donate, visit soill.org.